Quick release, two-way locking mechanism for an adjustable wrench



June 19, 1962 c. BORG QUICK RELEASE, TWO-WAY LOCKING MECHANISM FOR AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1960 INVENTOR CM A June 19, 1962 c. BORG 3,039,338

WAY L QUICK RELEAS TWO OCKING MECHANISM FOR ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Filed Feb. 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVE TOR. 1 C

United States Patent 3,039,338 QUICK RELEASE, TWO-WAY LOCKING MECHA- NISM FOR AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Charlie Borg, Box 3, Postal Station D, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 8,085 3 Claims. (Cl. 81-134) This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and more particularly in wrenches of the adjustable type.

The conventional types of adjustable wrenches normally comprise a main wrench portion having a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw located on the main wrench portion. Such conventional adjustable wrenches have the disadvantage that movement of the movable jaw from one position to another is tedious and time consuming.

Another disadvantage is that the movable jaw is positioned comparatively loosely on the fixed portion of the wrench and may easily, during use, gradually move away from the pre-set position until finally the wrench no longer fit-s, for instance, the nut on which it is being used, but slips around the corners of the nut, rounding and disfiguring these.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adjustable wrench incorporating automatic lock means adapted to maintain a movable jaw of the wrench in a fixed position in relation to a fixed jaw on the wrench, thereby preventing inadvertent movement of the movable jaw.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable wrench incorporating quick release of the jaw position, and facilities for quick movement of the movable jaw to any position in relation to the fixed jaw, Within the range of the wrench.

It is a further object of this invention to provide automatic movement means adapted to actuate the movable jaw of the wrench towards the fixed jaw of the wrench upon a simple catch being released.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable wrench adapted to be adjusted to any conventional nut size.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable wrench in which the removable jaw is adapted, through simple locking means, to be locked simultaneously in direction both away from, and toward the fixed aw.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichfl FIG. 1 is a perspective, part-cutaway view of an adjustable wrench embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective part-cutaway view of an alternative means of embodying this invention in an adjustable wrench.

FIG. 3 is a fractional, sectional, side elevation of the wrench illustrated in FIG. 1, showing in enlarged detail the adjustable locking mechanism in the locked position.

FIG. 4 is a fractional, sectional, side elevation of the wrench illustrated in FIG. 1, showing in enlarged detail the adjustable locking mechanism in the released position.

Referring to FIG. 1 an adjustable wrench is shown comprising a main body portion 1 having at one end thereof attached a fixed jaw 2 that may be supplied with serrations 3.

Main portion 1 contains a groove 4, closed at one end with an end plate 5, main portion 1 being adapted to constitute a guide for a movable jaw 6 having a nether portion 7 adapted to encompass and slide longitudinally on main portion 1, main portion 1 being adapted to guide and maintain movable jaw 6 in substantially parallel and opposing position to fixed jaw 2.

Referring also to FIG. 3, edges 8 of groove 4 are adapted "ice to be located substantially parallel, and engage with the end surfaces 9 and 10 of L-shaped abutment members 11 and 12 respectively, members 11 and 12 being swivably located within a chamber 13 in movable jaw 6 on spindle 14 located transversely of movable jaw 6, in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of main portion 1.

L-shaped abutment members 11 and 12 are opposingly located on spindle 14, the fulcrum of rotation of members 11 and 12 being located substantially toward the corner of each member, yet maintaining the one arm of each member that contacts edges 8 in such a position that a line reaching from the center of spindle 14, perpendicular to edge 8 will at all times fall within the outer edge of the end surfaces 9 and 1d of quadrants 11 and 12 that is adapted to contact edges 8.

A manual release lever 15 is hingeably located on movable jaw 6 and adapted to act longitudinally on a stud 16 attached to a yoke 17 having two ends 18 and 19 adapted to respectively act on the free ends 20 and 21 of quadrants 11 and 12 respectively.

A spring 22 is adapted to exert force, pulling ends 9 and 10 of members 11 and 12 respectively toward each other to assist in jamming action of movable jaw 6 on main portion 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, manual depression of lever 15 will press on rod 16 that projects through movable jaw 6 and presses on yoke 17, this in turn pressing on outer ends 20 and 21 of members 11 and 12, thereby causing members 11 and 12 to pivot about spindle 14 and release their jamming pressure on main portion 1, thereby stretching spring 22. A spring 23, shown specifically in FIG. 1, is located on guide rod 24, which is firmly attached to end piece 5 at one end of guide rod 24, the other end of guide rod 24 projecting slidably through a hole 25 in movable jaw 6, spring 23 being adapted to actuate movable jaw 6 to approach fixed jaw 2 upon jamming action between movable jaw 6 and main portion 1 being released.

Subsequent release of lever 15 permits spring 22 to contract, thereby causing members 11 and 12 to pivot arcuately inwardly about spindle 14 and their respective ends 9 to 10 to contact oppositely located edges 8 of main portion 1, thereby resuming the locking action between movable jaw 6 and main portion 1 as shown in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that rotation of yoke 17 about the axis of stud 16 is effectively prevented by ends 18 and 19 thereof being in close proximity to the inner surfaces of chamber 13 within movable j-aw 6.

It should also be noted that a gap exists between the upper surface of yoke 17 and the inner surface of chamber 13 upon the mechanism assuming its locked position as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby precluding ends 18 and 19 of yoke 17 from preventing full downward movement of ends 9 and 10 of members 11 and 12 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2 an alternative configuration of an adjustable wrench embodying this invention is shown comprising a main portion 26 having fixed jaw 27 and a movable jaw 28 slidably located on main portion 26. A series of teeth is located on top of each side wall 29 and 30 of main portion 26, main portion 26 having the configuration of a channel section, the teeth on walls 29 and 30 beig of ratchet shape, the teeth on wall 29 being located in a direction opposite to that of the teeth on wall 30.

A spindle 31 located in movalble jaw 28, transversely of the longitudinal direction of main portion 26, carries two pivotable pawls 32 and 33, pawls 32 and 33 being opposingly located and adapted with one end to engage teeth on walls 30 and 29 respectively, the other end of each of pawls 32 and 33 being in contact with a yoke 34 adapted to be actuated by a manual lever 35, hingeably located in movable jaw 28, through rod 36.

A spring 37 is adapted to draw the two free ends of pawls 32 and 33 together, thereby maintaining contact between pawls 32 and 33 and the teeth on walls 30 and 29 respectively upon no manual pressure being exerted on yoke 34 through lever 35.

A spring 44, guided by rod 38 is adapted to exert longitudinal actuating pressure between transverse end plate 39 and movable jaw 28.

The action of the release mechanism is substantially the same as that previously described under FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 inasmuch as manual pressure on lever 35 will, through yoke 34, press down on yoke ends 40 and 41 of pawls 32 and 33 respectively, thereby raising free ends 42 and 43 respectively out of engagement with the teeth on walls 30 and 29 respectively, permitting spring 37 to actuate movable jaw 28 to move towards fixed jaw 27 to engage, for instance, with a nut, etc.

It will be noted that this wrench lends itself for automatic adjustment, since it is merely necessary to place the wrench over the nut that is required to be turned, whereafter pressure on the manual actuating lever automatically will close the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw until the adjustable wrench fits the pertinent nut.

The general design of the individual parts of the invention as explained above may be varied according to requirements in regards to manufacture and production thereof while still remaining within the spirit and principle of the invention, Without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an adjustable wrench, a channel section body portion comprising a bottom wall, a first side wall and an oppositely located second side wall, a rear end wall and a front end wall, said front end wall extending perpendicularly outwardly from said bottom wall and said first side wall and said second side wall to form a fixed jaw member, a hollow, movable jaw member slidably located on said body portion cooperative and coplanar with said fixed jaw member, a transverse spindle located within said movable jaw member, a first L-shaped abutment member having a vertical arm and a rearwardly extending horizontal arm pivotally attached to said transverse spindle at the junction of said vertical arm and said horizontal arm, a lower edge of said vertical arm abutting the upper edge of said first side wall of said body portion, a second L-shaped abutment member having a vertical arm and a forwardly extending horizontal arm pivotally attached to said transverse spindle at the junction of said vertical and horizontal arms, the lower edge of said vertical arm abutting the upper edge of said second side wall of said body portion, a push rod extending slidably, vertically through said movable jaw member, having an innermost end and an outermost end, a yoke means interconnecting said inner most end with said horizontal arms of said first and second abutment members, an actuator lever hingeably attached to the outer casing of said movable jaw member,

having a free end resting flatly horizontally on the outermost end of said push rod, and spring means interconnecting said vertical arm of said first abutment member and said vertical arm of said second abutment member.

2. In an adjustable wrench as claimed in claim 1, a bias spring means located within said body portion extending between said rear end wall and said movable jaw member, a bias spring mounting rod coaxial with said bias spring having one end fixedly mounted in said rear end wall and said movable jaw member slidably mounted upon the opposite end of said bias spring rod.

3. In an adjustable wrench, a channel section body portion comprising a bottom wall, a first side wall and an oppositely located second side wall, a rear end wall and a front end wall, said front end wall extending perpendicularly outwardly from said bottom wall and said first side wall and said second side Wall to form a fixed jaw member, a plurality of rearwardly extending ratchet teeth formed on the upper edge of said first side wall and a plurality of forwardly extending ratchet teeth formed on the upper edge of said second side wall, a hollow movable jaw member slidably located on said body portion cooperative and coplanar with said fixed jaw member, a transverse spindle located within said movable jaw member, a first L-shaped pawl member having a vertical arm and a rearwardly extending horizontal arm pivotally attached to said transverse spindle at the junction of said vertical arm and said horizontal arm, a toothed lower edge of said vertical arm contacting said rearwardly extending ratchet teeth on said first side wall of said body portion, a second L-shaped pawl member having a vertical arm and a forwardly extending arm pivotally attached to said transverse spindle at the junction of said vertical and horizontal arms, a lower toothed edge of said vertical arm contactingsaid forwardly extending ratchet teeth formed on said second side wall of said body portion, a push rod extending slidably, vertically through said movable jaw member, having an innermost end and an outermost end, a yoke means interconnecting said innermost end with said horizontal arms of said first and second pawl members, an actuating lever hingeably attached to the outer casing of said movable jaw member, having a free end resting flatly horizontally on the outermost end of said push rod, and spring means interconnecting said vertical arm of said first pawl member and said vertical arm of said second pawl member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 459,072 Sullivan Sept. 8, 1891 831,555 Holton'et a1 Sept. 25, 1906 903,894 Schubert Nov. 17, 1908 1,003,556 Washington Sept. 19, 1911 1,042,777 Fernandez Oct. 29, 1912 1,271,400 Wert July 2, 1918 2,022,855 Gross Dec. 3, 1935 

